Everton’s contingent for the international break

A number of Everton players will be joining up with their respective national teams this week for the upcoming international break. With the World Cup coming up this summer, it represents an opportunity for some of the players on the fringes to ensure they will be on the plane to Russia in a few months.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been locked in a battle with Jack Butland for England’s starting goalie spot, and though the Everton man won their duel this last weekend, the gloves are still up for grabs. England will play against the Netherlands on March 23rd and then Italy on March 28th.

Seamus Coleman has been named the captain for the Republic of Ireland for their friendly, against Turkey on March 23rd. On-form striker Cenk Tosun has been called up for the Turkish side, and will also play on March 27th against Montenegro.

Ashley Williams will be the captain of the Wales team to play in the China Cup, starting with a game against the hosts on March 22nd. The winner of that clash will take on the winner of Uruguay against the Czech Republic on March 26th.

Ramiro Funes Mori will link up with Argentina despite the defender yet to play a game for the Blues since his return from knee surgery. He has played a couple of times for the Under-23s but has not been in a matchday squad picked by Sam Allardyce yet. The Albiceleste play Italy on March 23rd and then Spain on March 27th.

Fellow defender Cuco Martina will represent his home nation of Curacao against Bolivia on March 23rd.

Idrissa Gueye and Oumar Niasse have been called up for Senegal, who play on March 23rd against Uzbekistan and then against Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 27th. On-loan midfielder Muhamed Besic will be on the Bosnian team that also plays Bulgaria on March 23rd.

Winger Yannick Bolasie will join up with the Democratic Republic of Congo side for a friendly against Tanzania on March 24th. Kevin Mirallas is once again in the Belgium squad, this time for a friendly against Saudi Arabia on March 27th.

On-loan fullback Antonee Robinson, currently at Bolton Wanderers and widely expected to claim a berth with the senior side next season, has been called up as part of a youthful side named by the United States for a friendly against Paraguay on March 27th.

Everton had a strong representation in England’s Under-20 World Cup winning side, and that same core will once again play for the Under-21 side against Romania on March 24th and Ukraine on March 27th. Mason Holgate, Jonjoe Kenny, Tom Davies, Kieran Dowell, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman are all named in the 26-man squad.

Updates:

Youth team info courtesy of evertonfc.com -

Nikola Vlasic - Croatia U-21s: vs Czech Republic March 23rd, vs Moldova March 27th

Harry Charsley - Republic of Ireland U-21s: vs Iceland March 22nd, vs Azerbaijan March 27th

Shayne Lavery - Northern Ireland U-21s: vs Spain March 22nd, vs Iceland March 26th

Fraser Hornby - Scotland U-19s: vs Germany March 21st, vs Netherlands March 24th, vs Norway March 27th.

Nathangelo Markelo - Netherlands U-19s: vs Norway March 21st, vs Scotland March 24th, vs Germany March 27th

Alex Denny, Lewis Gibson - England U-18s: vs Qatar March 21st, vs Argentina March 23rd, vs Belarus March 26th.

Michael Collins - Republic of Ireland U-18s: vs Romania March 25th

Pawel Zuk - Poland U-17s: vs Georgia March 21st, vs Macedonia March 24th, vs Republic of Ireland March 27th